Colleen Bays is ✨️Querying✨️

Querying this adorably punny, interactive, fun-filled feline romp with a surprise ending! Perfect for read-alouds!

This is so fun that kids won't know it's SEL! The text builds and repeats, and kids will beg to read it again! (This manuscript is starting rounds with a professional editor and will be ready by May!) #posterpit #w #cl

An interactive romp that kids will want to read again and again! They'll love to participate and see the surprise ending! #posterpit #q #cl

"Creativity isn't an algorithm." This interview reinforced most of what I've been leaning about the publishing industry... however, I found it encouraging to meet a CEO in a creative industry to be so passionate about creativity. #authorlife #authormom youtu.be/XcSbQU0g8hw?si…

@vickyweberbooks Same! Stroller rides and naptimes, I'm listening to audiobooks, webinars, or substacks.

I used to be *very* particular about reading physical books, but with kids, I don't have that luxury. Audiobooks are the only way I read for fun nowadays.

@chelseascottbks I'm sitting like this in a couple agents' inboxes, too! 😬

Dipped a toe into querying my "Hamlet is dead" mystery/thriller set on a haunted train, and here I sit 👉🏻👈🏻 #amquerying #writingcommunity

@vickyweberbooks Is there a calendar that lists all of the social media pitch events?

I dipped in last night and this morning! If you get a ❤️ DM me for a query link!

Is there a calendar (and key) of all the different pitch events on X/Insta/Bluesky? And are there any specifically for picture books?

@vickyweberbooks I really enjoyed this yesterday! Thanks so much! Also looking forward to querying you when you reopen.

This is one of my favorite classes to teach. Who will be there? keap.page/wfa867/worksho…

@vickyweberbooks What is LAOC?

random thing about me: I’m an alum of LAOC and that experience changed how I approach publishing

@endoftimeagain @vickyweberbooks Same!!

@vickyweberbooks The beginning and the end are done. I'm just out here wandering around somewhere in the middle.

Writers: what part of your current draft are you avoiding?

@vickyweberbooks I'm trudging through the murky middle. I've written the first third, the climax, the end, and now just need to get everything to connect. It's hard to finish a draft when all the pieces you saved until "later" are all that are left and now it's "later!"

Current writing project: my debut adult novel! Hoping to crank out the rest of this first draft in April! 🤞 #roughdraftchallenge #debutnovel #amwriting #authormom

Who is doing the Rough Draft Challenge in April in Sarra Cannon's Heart Breathings writing community? I'm hoping to crank out the rest of my debut novel! #roughdraftchallenge #authormom #amwriting #debutnovel

@vickyweberbooks Thank you! I queried book #1 with little luck, now querying book #2 (which I'm really excited about!), and throwing book #3 into the mix a little now, too! I really do just keep showing up!

I have so much respect for writers in the query trenches right now. It’s not easy to keep showing up to that process.

@kcdunfordbooks I've come across this one.

An agent sent me a rejection along with a link to send the query to the rest of their agency to let them take a look at it. Has anyone experienced this? Is it fairly standard? Just trying to understand how to interpret it. #amquerying #amwriting #WritingCommunity

@lyssa_whitt Ack! I don't think you do 😆

How does one stay calm when a super amazing agent requested your full manuscript with such enthusiasm… I’m so hopeful🤞🏼